Do visa restrictions still apply during pandemic?

[proudtobabritgirl 126]

I'm just curious if anyone knows the answer to this. Because of the pandemic, US green card holders are stranded abroad. However, one condition of a green card is not to not be out of the country for more than six months. If people are stranded in countries which have closed their borders and (heaven forbid) they are closed for longer than 6 months, on return to USA would those people be allowed to enter on the understanding of the pandemic? I'm asking because a British friend of mine is stranded in Sri Lanka and like me she is a permanent resident in USA. She's already been there for 6 weeks and she is frantic with worry. I'm sure this is the wrong category to post in, but wasn't sure where to ask this. 

[Wuozopo 4,285]

18 minutes ago, proudtobabritgirl said:

I'm just curious if anyone knows the answer to this. Because of the pandemic, US green card holders are stranded abroad. However, one condition of a green card is not to not be out of the country for more than six months. If people are stranded in countries which have closed their borders and (heaven forbid) they are closed for longer than 6 months, on return to USA would those people be allowed to enter on the understanding of the pandemic? I'm asking because a British friend of mine is stranded in Sri Lanka and like me she is a permanent resident in USA. She's already been there for 6 weeks and she is frantic with worry. I'm sure this is the wrong category to post in, but wasn't sure where to ask this. 

There is a whole new forum area for Corvid-19 related topics where people are asking similar questions. Since an event like this has never happened before, nobody knows what might eventually happen, but right now immigration laws still stand.
 

She could have left three weeks ago before bans were so restrictive and airlines grounded most of their planes. 

[Crazy Cat 39,658]

2 hours ago, proudtobabritgirl said:

However, one condition of a green card is not to not be out of the country for more than six months.

Not true.  Green Card holder can remain outside the US for up to a year.....

 

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/international-travel-a-permanent-resident

Edited April 2, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[Crazy Cat 39,658]

***Topic moved to Covid-19 discussion area***

[Boiler 43,746]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/01/first-british-rescue-flight-set-to-depart-as-part-of-75m-operation

 

The first charter flight in the £75m coronavirus rescue operation will leave Algeria on 2 April, with departures from South Africa, Nepal and India to follow.

As the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, and the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, continue negotiations to get a series of charter flights to help the most vulnerable stranded UK nationals, British embassies around the world disclosed details of operations under way. There are thought to be about 400,000 Britons stranded overseas.

The flight from Algeria will offer seats costing £186, according to the Foreign Office. Flights out of the country were suspended on 19 March leaving few options for British travellers or charity workers who wanted to leave.

[Steeleballz 7,550]

6 hours ago, proudtobabritgirl said:

I'm just curious if anyone knows the answer to this. Because of the pandemic, US green card holders are stranded abroad. However, one condition of a green card is not to not be out of the country for more than six months. If people are stranded in countries which have closed their borders and (heaven forbid) they are closed for longer than 6 months, on return to USA would those people be allowed to enter on the understanding of the pandemic? I'm asking because a British friend of mine is stranded in Sri Lanka and like me she is a permanent resident in USA. She's already been there for 6 weeks and she is frantic with worry. I'm sure this is the wrong category to post in, but wasn't sure where to ask this. 

 

  Green card holders are generally presumed to have abandoned residence after one year. It is rebuttable. LPR's should keep all documentation, cancelled flight records, rescheduled flights and everything else they are doing to attempt to return to prove that they have not abandoned residence.

 

  My father in law was out of the USA for almost 2.5 years after having a stroke and was allowed to reenter without issue. In some cases people are required to appear before an immigration judge to prove that they did not abandon residence. Ultimately, it is advisable to make every attempt to get back prior to 1 year, but if someone absolutely can not, they should keep as much evidence as possible to prove that they did not intend to abandon US residency. How strict or lenient USCIS will be in regards to Covid-19 related travel issues as they pertain to LPR's is anyone's guess.

 

  

[geowrian 22,336]

12 hours ago, Steeleballz said:

How strict or lenient USCIS will be in regards to Covid-19 related travel issues as they pertain to LPR's is anyone's guess.

CBP*

USCIS wouldn't have a role here.

[US-UK 32]

On 4/2/2020 at 6:11 AM, proudtobabritgirl said:

Because of the pandemic, US green card holders are stranded abroad.

The US and other countries repeatedly told their citizens and LPRs to return home immediately or be prepared to stay out for an extended / indefinite period of time.  So I continue to struggle with the notion that anyone is “stranded” when there were options, each of us chose an option, and now each of us has to live with the consequences of our decisions.